Award-Wining Films Highlight Ellensburg Film Festival

October 2, 2006

Contact: Djordje Popovic (509-963-1687/fax 509-963-1379/e-mail: popovicd@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - The curtain goes up on the second annual Ellensburg Film Festival (EFF) Friday, Oct. 6, with a 7:30 p.m. screening at Grand Meridian Cinema of the 2006 Sundance Film Festival winner "Quinceañara," a comedy-drama about a Latino teenager who travels the rough road to adulthood earlier than she expected."

The three-day festival celebrates the art, innovation and culture of filmmaking and film viewing by showcasing the best in global and independent films. It will feature 60 films from 15 countries that will be screened throughout the weekend at the Grand Meridian, new Student Union Theatre and Hal Holmes Community Center.

The 2006 EFF films will also include the 2005 Cannes winner "Sisters in Law," about changing the status quo for women in Cameroon; the 2005 Academy Award-nominated "God Sleeps in Rwanda," about five women affected by the Rwandan genocide; "F*ck," which explores the boundaries of the First Amendment; "Half Nelson," a likely 2006 Oscar-contender about a teacher's battle against apathy and drug abuse among junior high students; and "Suzhou River," a tale of obsessive love in Shanghai from the recently banned Chinese director Lou Ye.

The festival will also feature 10 collections of short and documentary films including "Another World is Possible," made by independent filmmakers who document the struggle against cultural, economic and military hegemony in Argentina and Falluja; two shorts by international directors, "A Slice of Brazil" and "World in Focus"; and "Life Running Out of Control," which explores the effects of ongoing experiments in the genetic manipulation of plants and animals.

EFF, a partnership between CWU and Ellensburg community, is supported by the College of Arts and Humanities, Center for Latino and Latin American Studies, Campus Activities, Center for Student Empowerment, First Amendment Festival and Diversity Education Center.

For more information about the festival, visit www.ellensburgfilmfestival.com, or call 509-963-1687.